Plastic Tiger Tuba

[clintontuba2]

As sure as the day is long, I'm probably about to get beaten up in the cyber parking lot.
But here goes, I took the plunge and bought one of these bad boys last night. Any opinions that haven't already been voiced in the previous thread?
I bought this thing to try, and possibly do some small ensemble playing around the holidays, or maybe brass quintet. My 186 is heavy, and this might be a fun and easy option. Heck I may even sell the 186, if this thing is somewhat close in the world of intonation.

Also, does anyone have opinion on color? These dudes are made in China, and it is coming up on the new year for them, so production is slow so shipment will be delayed and they said I could change my mind on color if I decided to in the next few days. I went ahead and ordered it in yellow, just in case I decided to play in larger ensemble and not get my face slapped for showing up with a bright red horn. Can anyone think of any reason to purchase the black one over the yellow one? or even a reason to order the blue or red one over the yellow one? It seems like yellow would be the most common sense if I had any chance of blending in whatsoever.

I am pretty excited about getting one, even just for playing around the house, so any bubble busters just keep scrolling please. Thanks!
Pete Davis

[bisontuba]

Let us know how it plays and how the construction is. Enjoy.
Mark

[Mark]

If the yellow is anything like the pBone yellow, you will definitely stick out. You would probably be less noticeable with black.

[eupher61]

I don't mean to name drop, but Mike Lynch was very impressed with one, at least.

[GC]

I would think that white would stand out the least. People have been seeing white sousaphones for years.

[Tubajug]

If I ever get one, it will probably be the silver one. That doesn't look too crazy, and you don't have to polish it!

[NCSUSousa]

If the pictures on Oz's webpage are accurate, I'd rank the Black lacquer as best.
One of the trumpet players in my community band has a black laquer trumpet. I think it looks very nice.

The silver metallic one looks nice too.

The yellow tuba is quite bright. The blue is too. I think either one would stand out in an ensemble. So would red, but I have an excuse for that one since I am an NCSU grad.

I'd love to see a review of your new tuba once you've had it for a few weeks regardless of which color you pick.

[Art Hovey]

Everybody knows that black will give you a darker tone.

[MartyNeilan]

My daughter absolutely loves light blue. If I were to get one that would be the color. In the hands of a competent player they sound pretty decent. I am thinking some kind of rim around the edge of the bell (split ice maker line or something similar) might help to tighten up the sound a little.

[Donn]

Brass doesn't "resonate" and fill the room. Bang on a brass tuba with a shoe or something and listen. That's 90% of what brass has to offer by way of resonance. I'm not saying there's no difference at all in bell materials, but it will be most evident to the player, behind the bell. At the other end of a large concert hall - or outdoors, the largest concert hall - carbon fiber, plastic, brass, fiberglass will all reach just as far. The virtues and defects of these plastic tubas will have a lot more to do with internal geometry, valves etc.